Published on May 17, 2012 by RTAmericaOn Wednesday, District Judge Katherine Forrest ruled the National Defense Authorization Act unconstitutional. Forrest issued a preliminary injunction which restrains the US government from administering section 1021 of the NDAA, a provision that allows for the indefinite detention for Americans with alleged terrorist ties. Carl Mayer, attorney for The Mayer Law Group representing the plaintiffs,joins us for more on the judge's ruling.

The Vatican is threatening to sue over a new book based on leaked documents. Picture: AP.

THE Vatican has denounced as "criminal" a new book of leaked internal documents that shed light on power struggles inside the Holy See and the inner workings of its embattled bank, and warned that it would take legal action against those responsible.Pope Benedict XVI has already appointed a commission of cardinals to investigate the "Vatileaks" scandal, which erupted earlier this year with the publication of leaked memos alleging corruption and mismanagement in Holy See affairs and internal squabbles over its efforts to comply with international anti-money laundering norms.The publication of His Holiness, by Italian journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi, added fuel to the fire, reproducing letters and memos to and from Benedict and his personal secretary which the Vatican said violated the pope's right to privacy.

PROTESTERS gathering in Chicago for the NATO summit are gearing up for their largest demonstration, with thousands are expected to march from a downtown park to the lakeside convention centre where world leaders including Prime Minister Julia Gillard are meeting.Hours before the main demonstration is set to start, protesters - including peace activists, war veterans and those more focused on the economy - have begun arriving at Grant Park, holding signs denouncing NATO, including ones that read: "War=Debt" and "NATO, Go Home".Security has been tight throughout the city, as the heads of state from about 60 countries began arriving to discuss the war in Afghanistan, European missile defence and other issues.Today's protest followed several, smaller demonstrations the previous two days including one peaceful march to the home of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama's former chief of staff, yesterday.But a march later that evening involving hundreds of demonstrators stretched for hours as protesters zigzagged back and forth through town, some decrying terrorism-related charges levelled against three young men earlier in the day.Increasingly tense clashes last night tested police who used bicycles to barricade off streets and horseback officers to coax them in different directions. Eighteen people were arrested, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said.McCarthy said police would be ready with quick but targeted arrests of any demonstrators who turn violent on Sunday.

The state government has referred to the corruption watchdog a review into three Circular Quay leases owned by ALP powerbroker Eddie Obeid's family.The Ports Minister, Duncan Gay, has found there was ''reasonable grounds on which to suspect the issues may concern corrupt conduct''.The review was prompted after a series of questions were put to the government as part of a Herald investigation which revealed yesterday that Mr Obeid's family trust had been a secret beneficiary of three lucrative government leases.

The investigation also revealed the family had hidden this interest by using a front company and that Mr Obeid had personally discussed the leases with at least two maritime ministers without disclosing his conflict.Mr Gay told the Herald that on Friday he had ''referred allegations of potential corrupt conduct involving members of the former state Labor government'' to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.''The NSW Liberals and Nationals are determined to clean up NSW and ensure open and accountable government is restored after 16 years of Labor,'' he said.Mr Gay's office is also considering an independent review of the leases at Circular Quay subject to any findings or recommendations by the ICAC. The Arc Cafe, Quay Eatery and Sorrentino all sit within or next to the bustling ferry wharves that service about 14 million passengers a year. The Quay is one of Australia's busiest hotspots for overseas tourists.In 2003, Mr Obeid's family acquired the three cafes from his former associate and Labor party donor Tony Imad for $2.4 million. But, on paper, the leaseholder was Mr Obeid's brother-in-law John Abood.New documents surfaced this year, however, that showed Mr Abood's Circular Quay Restaurants Pty Ltd was acting as a front company for the Obeid family.Sworn financial statements and court affidavits revealed the Obeid Family Trust No. 2 was the ultimate beneficiary of the businesses. One of Mr Obeid's sons also gave court testimony that his parents were members of this trust.A former Maritime official, Fergus McPherson, told The Sun-Herald yesterday that he and others inside the department who tried to resist ''initiatives to feather-bed incumbents [at the Quay and elsewhere] had our careers blighted''.Mr McPherson wrote: ''To achieve financial benefits for such insiders (and their donors), the various public policy settings for tenures on Sydney's foreshores were jettisoned … This cleared the way for NSW Maritime under [former ministers] Costa, Roozendaal and Tripodi and [their officials] … to shield ALL sitting lessees from appropriate reconsideration at the conclusion of their tenures.''There was surprise in political circles yesterday that former colleagues Carl Scully and Eric Roozendaal had spoken publicly about the actions of Mr Obeid, one of the party's most formidable powerbrokers. Mr Scully said that after the government had completed an exhaustive tender process in 2000, Mr Obeid had sought an extension to one of the leases - but did not tell him that the Obeid family then secretly negotiated to purchase the business.''I flatly refused this request,'' Mr Scully said. ''This was not well-received and … Eddie became quite angry. It was only after I left politics that an allegation was made to me that Eddie had at the time in question a direct commercial interest. If the allegation is true, then it would explain the overreaction to my decision.'' Mr Roozendaal told the Herald Mr Obeid had discussed with him the leases but did not disclose his interest.A spotlight has been shone on the secretive way the Obeid family does business as a result of a failed legal stoush with the City of Sydney, which has left Mr Obeid's son Moses $12 million in the red and facing possible bankruptcy.The City of Sydney successfully sued Moses Obeid and his company Streetscape for secretly selling the council's Smartpoles in the Middle East in breach of a licence agreement.Mr Obeid, who is appealing the decision, told the court last month he earned $100,000 a year and did not have the financial resources to pay. But the City of Sydney identified a complex series of trusts controlled by the Obeid family through which millions and millions of dollars had flowed allowing Mr Obeid and his siblings to enjoy a lavish lifestyle.In ordering Moses Obeid to pay the council, Justice Peter Young of the Court of Appeal said he could have ''very little confidence'' in the evidence of Moses Obeid and his brother Paul and noted that the Obeids appeared to exemplify the doctrine: ''How to live well on nothing a year.''The Obeids have not responded to questions from the Herald.

We come to guide and to support as the time that has always been stated approaches. In the “history” of human kind there has been an event that has been stated and all humans are now looking to this event with wonder. We are here to confirm through our channel that the information regarding this event is TRUTH.

Much has occurred around the timeline that YOU are in and much has been distorted to create a lower energy signature in general for the human race, this event is NOT one of those distortions. We are here to guide in detail for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. We guide the time of the NEW earth is now in the physical, the shifting of energies, the raising of vibration has created this event that has always been stated.

We wish to guide further on the creation of an event in a timeline for those who are in the NOW. It may be confusing for the human mind to work with the NOW and the creation and we will do our best to explain this to YOU.

We have guided on dreaming and the importance of collective dreaming, this is where the vibrations of those who hold the codes for the new earth merge with those who are in human form and able to dream. The dream councils are now reporting that the dreaming has created what it was designed to create. This is down to YOU dear humans for YOU have allowed the dreaming SELF to enter the void and to create. This is the way that all civilizations that are not on earth work and how the new earth that is created for the peoples of the planet earth will work.

Dreaming has begun and those who hold the codes have dreamed with those who hold the LOVE that IS within their hearts. We are here to guide and support so that YOU may be able to hold the LOVE that IS more securely in YOUr hearts over the next 24/48 hours. The days of darkness that were foretold are now dear ones, we guide the days of darkness are for those who are now making a vibrational choice as to whether to stay on a 3D world or to move to a higher vibration and allow the LOVE that IS to reside in their hearts.

Those who are not awake dear ones may FEEL as if their world is collapsing and we guide dear ones for YOU to hold the space for them. It may not be possible for them to hear YOUr words of comfort so we guide for YOU to hold the space energetically. This is done through the act of BEing, it is done by staying in grace and in LOVE and of allowing the FLOW of the new energies to move freely around and within YOUr BEing.

The new earth is now BEing dreamed into creation, she now pauses before entering the birth canal to BE physically present in the reality in which YOU reside. This is done as a reflection of the dreaming that has occurred and which the dream councils will report on in greater detail.

Those who work with the codes of the new earth are now moving into place and will become highly visible over the coming days. These are the BEings who are showing the new earth in its splendour. We ask for YOU to connect to these individuals in dreamtime and ask to connect and dream with them. They will meet YOU in the dreamtime landscape and they will BE able to show YOU in detail the new earth that the human race is creating in harmony with all realms and races.

The influx of new energies will see various natural states of BEing for a human BEing accelerate. Those who have been working to clear their vision will see an increase in the depth of that vision and a depth of clarity they have not experienced before. For those who are honing their ability to communicate with those realms and races around them this will increase and deepen. The ability to telepathically communicate with those around YOU will increase tenfold. This for the humans who are not awake or who have not moved vibrationally to this TRUTH may be confusing and may for a short period of time create an influx of what is termed “mental health” issues for some of the population. KNOW the ability to be telepathic is natural, it is not an issue for a medical doctor who may prescribe medicine that will take the body out of its natural way of BEing and create situations that are traumatic.

We guide in this level of detail so that those who are at ONE with this way of BEing who can accept their abilities to communicate with not only humans but other realms and races around them can help those who are struggling. This is not a time to be in hierarchy dear ones and we guide this strongly. We do not ask that YOU transform all who cross YOUr path but we do guide that if you are awakening and have the ability to nurture and space hold for those around YOU that YOU do so.

The new earth is based on FEELings, it is not possible to create within the vibrations of the new earth with old vibrations active within YOU. This is where we guide on the days of darkness. Whilst YOU hold the aches and the trauma within YOUr heart this will come up for release. It is not permissible to enter a new born world with the trauma of an old world active within YOU. We ask for YOU to go into meditation and to do the work necessary to achieve the cleansing and clearing that is necessary to move to the new earth.

We wish to clarify further on the new earth and the VIBRATIONAL shift that is required. We do not guide that a new physical earth will be created that is separate and needs to be reached. That is not TRUTH dear ones and we guide for YOU to detach from this scenario. This was implanted into human consciousness in order to provoke FEAR and to lower the vibration of the human race.

EVERYTHING is vibration and EVERYTHING is energy, we now move to a vibration that sees the LOVE that IS borne a new, at a deeper level and harmonized and anchored within the human race. The days of darkness will occur for those who are not ready to do this, not ready to open their hearts and to BE. We guide that LOVE is the answer to all questions dear ones and that LOVE is the vibration that YOU naturally resonate to. The more out of balance and in line with the vibration of the 3D world in which YOU were enslaved that YOU are the more difficult may be the process that is needed to move vibrationally.

ALL realms and ALL races stand ready to help and assist in this movement into the new earth. Some races and realms have instilled various tools within the human race in general to cope with the demand of the human race at this time. We guide YOU in the use of crystals, of colour, of meditations and of LOVE. KNOW that YOU are safe and protected at ALL times dear ones as YOU move through the dimensional shifts that are needed to raise YOUr vibration to where it was always to BE.

We guide for YOU to BE in flow at all times dear ones, for the reality that will begin to BE created will be in flow for some time. This is not a quick shift and it is not a quick birth, the birth of the new earth will happen in different time frames for different human BEings. It is not appropriate to talk of earth years for that is linear time and the shifts of vibration are happening in all timeline and all dimensions at the same time. There is only NOW dear ones and we guide for YOU to anchor this deeply within YOUr very BEing.

This is the event that has been talked about through all of time and all of the universe is now around YOU, the universe is waiting for YOU to dream the new earth for SELF for in dreaming YOU create the vibration that is needed to help others on planet earth. Work with the energies that YOU ARE and create by dreaming and bringing the vision that YOU hold into the world that YOU live in. Do YOU understand our guidance? Do YOU understand our words?

We are the SENTINELS and we guard the portals to ALL new worlds. We come to guide in order to help and support YOU as YOU begin YOUr journey home dear ones.

BE in balance, BE in flow and have TRUST and FAITH in SELF for the human race now works to come into harmony with the universe in which it resides. We welcome YOU home dear ones and we send the LOVE that IS to wrap itself around YOU and flow through YOU for LOVE IS.

HEALTH Services Union officials Kathy Jackson and Marco Bolano today accused former colleague Craig Thomson of lying to Parliament.They described as a fantasy Mr Thomson's claims that a row he had in Mr Jackson's office which involved Mr Bolano led to a conspiracy to discredit him.He told Parliament today that conspiracy included setting him up for allegations he used HSU credit cards to hire prostitutes."Complete fantasy, it never occurred," Ms Jackson said.Rejecting claims of a set-up she said:"I think he could do a great job of that on his own."Mr Bolano said he feared Mr Thomson was "drowning in a sea of delusion".Thomson in tears: They spied on my wifeMalcolm Farr's verdict on Thomson's addressMeanwhile, two of the five independents whose support Mr Thomson needs said today the matter should be decided by the courts.Tasmanian Andrew Wilkie said the "Craig Thomson saga stinks. But my personal view is largely irrelevant.""According to the principles of natural justice he's innocent until proven guilty and entitled to a fair hearing."MP Tony Windsor repeated that he would not be judge and jury on the allegations against Mr Thomson.Mr Thomson, HSU secretary from 2002 to 2007 when he entered Labor politics, claimed in Parliament that there had been an argument in Ms Jackson's office which continued loudly down a corridor.Mr Bolano, HSU deputy national secretary, confirmed an argument, but said Mr Thomson wasn't there.It had involved Mr Thomson's half-brother, Struan Roberts, and had been over a demarcation dispute. He said this was the argument which Mr Thomson referred to as the start of threats against him.Mr Bolano said he had been an organiser at the time."Mr Thomson had dudded us - or in my view had dudded us - on a demarcation dispute. I had just found out, I saw his brother, I let it be known to his brother that, words to the effect that Mr Thomson was dishonorable and had misled us."It was a bit of colourful language but it was quite an insignificant interaction until now obviously. No threats to set him up, no intent to set him up, no mention of hookers."Mr Bolano said Mr Thomson today did not explain why he signed off on financial "statements that expenditure at brothels, even though that should have been unusual to do it"."I also point out that many of these dubious transactions occurred between 2002 and 2004. I had this conversation with Mr Thomson's brother at approximately 2005."He said: "It disturbs me watching Mr Thomson drowning in a river of delusion."In my view he has misled the Parliament, and whatever consequences after that he should face," said Mr Bolano.

We call on the New World Order to surrender its control of the Australian Government, its assets, its infrastructure, its resources, its wealth and its borders to the people of Australia forthwith and remove your transnational corporations from our lands. failure to comply will result in escalations of un named resistance.

(CBS/AP) CHICAGO - Chicago braced for more demonstrations Monday, with protesters marching to Boeing Corp. headquarters, a day after police clashed with a group of demonstrators at the end of a march protesting the NATO Summit.

CBS Station WBBM correspondent Marissa Bailey reports the demonstration outside Boeing's headquarters on N. Riverside Plaza in the West Loop will protest the defense contractor building aircraft and missiles for the U.S. military.

The protesters say Boeing is a "war machine that produces war machines."

So far there have been no arrests at Monday's protests according to Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

At about 11:00 a.m. CT protesters left Union Park and began walking along Lake Street toward Boeing, about 1.5 miles away, chanting, "We're going to beat back the Boeing attack."

Police are walking their bikes in ahead of them.

Last week Boeing covered its street-level windows with aluminum panels in preparation for possible vandalism during the protest. The Associated Press reported city workers unloaded metal barricades and placed them in front of Boeing's headquarters Monday morning. Guards outside the building include at least one dog handler with a K-9.

Two activists have hung up a sign on a metal fence outside Boeing headquarters reading, "Food not bombs."

The group does not have a permit for the protest, and thus, a large police presence is expected. However, demonstrators are not calling the planned event a protest at all, said Bailey. They are calling it a victory party, complete with food, clowns, music and dancing.

Many downtown businesses have told their employees to stay home during the second and final day of the summit — where world leaders are discussing the war in Afghanistan, European missile defense and other security issues — because of traffic snarls and the possibility of more protests.

More than two dozen Metra rail stations along a line that carries around 14,000 riders in from the southern suburbs on most weekdays will be closed, and stations and platforms patrolled by a larger contingent of law enforcement personnel and K-9 units. The Chicago Transit Authority will have to reroute 24 buses through the summit zone.

On Sunday, several thousand protesters marched through downtown in one of Chicago's largest demonstrations in years, airing grievances about war, climate change and a wide range of other complaints as world leaders assembled for a NATO summit.

Although the march was largely peaceful, late Sunday police and demonstrators clashed. Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said 45 protesters were arrested.

Four officers suffered minor injuries Sunday, the U.S. Secret Service told WBBM. A spokesperson with Mercy Hospital said seven protesters were treated and released.

Some protesters claimed (via Facebook and Twitter) that police officers attacked peaceful demonstrators without provocation, reports WBBM. But one police blog countered that an officer was attacked with a clawhammer.

Beginning late Sunday night a few dozen protesters held a vigil outside the police station on Belmont Ave., waiting for others to be released from jail - and cheering as those who had been detained emerged one by one. Some protesters flew an American flag upside-down as a symbol of protest, reports WBBM correspondent Susanna Song.

Officers outside the police station watched the protesters in case the situation got out of hand.

One woman who had been released from jail told reporters she had been charged with "refusal to disperse, I think . . . It wasn't really that serious."

Occupy Chicago member Bobby Hines of Chicago was arrested on charges of reckless conduct. He claimed that police officers attacked non-confrontational protesters during the march Sunday."It was ridiculous - I mean, just right as we were walking, they started hitting people with their billy clubs. I saw people with their eyes gashed out," Hines said. "It was basically a misuse of power in my opinion."

Chicago websites under cyber attack?NATO Summit is not popular in host city Chicago

Organizers with the Occupy Chicago movement planned to gather at a West Side park at 9 a.m., and an hour later march toward the Boeing building along the Chicago River in the city's business district to protest the company's role in building aircraft for the U.S. military.

Later, immigration rights activists will gather at the same park before boarding a bus to travel to the small village of Crete, about 35 miles south of Chicago, where federal officials are considering building a nearly 800-bed detention facility for illegal immigrants slated for deportation.

Andy Thayer, one of the main anti-NATO protest organizers, said he expected many demonstrators from out of town to leave Sunday night. But he said a strong contingent of protesters still will show up for the Boeing protest Monday morning.

He decried how city leaders and police officials have handled the protests. "I am disgusted, particularly, with the upper echelon of our city," Thayer said.

Sunday's protests drew together a broad assortment of participants, including peace activists joining with war veterans and people focused on economic inequality. But the diversity of opinions also sowed doubts about whether there were too many messages to be effective.

The protests lacked the size and singular message that shaped the last major protest moment in Chicago, when nearly half a million people filled the city's downtown in 2006 to protest making it a felony to be an illegal immigrant.

And some of the most enduring images of the event were likely to be from the end — when a small group of demonstrators clashed with a thick line of police who tried to keep them from the lakeside convention center where President Obama is hosting the gathering of world leaders.

The protesters tried to move east toward McCormick Place, with some hurling sticks and bottles at police. Officers responded by swinging their batons. After nearly two hours, the two sides were still locked in a standoff, with police blocking the protesters' path and the crowd refusing to leave. Some protesters appeared to have blood streaming down their faces.

Following the main skirmish, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said 45 protesters were arrested. Police said four officers were hurt, including one stabbed in the leg. Those numbers seemed certain to rise, as new clashes erupted later.

Hundreds of protesters gathered late Sunday night near the Art Institute of Chicago as first lady Michelle Obama hosted a dinner inside for spouses of NATO leaders. At least 100 Chicago police officers in riot gear were also at the scene.

The group of several hundred tried to send a message to the spouses of NATO leaders attending the event inside, sitting in the middle of Michigan Avenue in a driving rain chanting, "Our Streets, Our Streets." The group started dancing as the rain fell.

PAPUA New Guinea's chief justice was last night in police custody and expected to face court today charged with sedition, local media reported.

Earlier, the nation's Deputy Police Commissioner Tom Eluh said Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia would be arrested after a tense stand-off with police and the army.

The stand-off began when Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and about 10 police officers stormed into his court yesterday afternoon.

"I want you gone," Mr Namah shouted at the judge. "You are the most corrupt man in PNG."

Sir Salamo left the courtroom and locked himself in his chambers.

Earlier in the week, Mr Namah gave Sir Salamo and two other judges, Les Gavara-Nanu and Nicholas Kirriwom, 24 hours to resign after they found for the second time that political rival Sir Michael Somare was the nation's constitutional prime minister.

Sir Salamo, who was locked in his office with his lawyer until his arrest last night, denied he was biased in his decision to rule against the 10-month-old government of Peter O'Neill.

"Under the constitution the Supreme Court was required to give its decision and it fell on each one of the five judges to give an opinion," a visibly shaken Sir Salamo said.

He appealed to the police and military personnel to abide by his ruling. "This country is being run by men who are happy to use force rather than the rule of law," he said.

Mr O'Neill has said Sir Salamo's decision was a deliberate attempt to disrupt the country's election planned for June.

Outside the court house, Mr Eluh said Sir Salamo would be "formally charged with sedition".

The government has twice tried and failed to suspend Sir Salamo since last November, accusing him of bias against it. Police also arrested him on charges relating to his handling of court funds but the court put a permanent stay on those proceedings.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told her Papua New Guinea counterpart, Peter O'Neill, parties should act with restraint, following the arrest of the chief justice.

A spokeswoman for Ms Gillard said late last night the Prime Minister had spoken to Mr O'Neill to express the Australian Government's concerns about the development.

"They agreed it was important that the current situation did not detract from the good progress being made toward PNG's conduct of elections," the spokeswoman said.

"The Prime Minister noted the importance of all parties exercising restraint."